All you need to know about the mandibular incisive canal
Mandibular Incisive Canal (MIC) is the anterior extension of mandibular canal anterior to the mental foramen.
What happens if you damage the mandibular incisive canal?
Rarely known if damaged because just makes anterior teeth numb and hard for patient to tell, plus teeth often missing in that area if getting implant there. If an implant is in the area that means that there are less teeth so less chance the patient will be able to feel anything different. Murat JOI 2014 finds a 44% of damage to the mandibular incisive nerve with dental implant placement.
What is in the canal?
The mandibular incisive canal, being a continuation of the mandibular canal, contains a nerve. It typically contains:
- Incisive nerve: A branch of the inferior alveolar nerve, providing sensory innervation to the mandibular incisors and canines.
- Incisive blood vessels: Small branches of the inferior alveolar artery and vein, supplying blood to the anterior mandible and associated teeth.
Literature review
The occurrence of the mandibular incisive canal was 11 to 92% of cases pending the examination method used. Panoramic radiographs have the least accuracy (11%) in identifying this structure. Hence, a better image such as conventional tomographs or CT dental scans should be used especially in the intermental foramen area. Other literative reviews show 87-100% with the use of a CBCT.
How do you identify mandibular incisive canal?
Clinicians should not rely on panoramic radiographs for identifying the anterior loop of the mental nerve during implant treatment planning. Furthermore, based upon the anatomical findings a safe guideline of 4 mm from the most anterior point of the MF is recommended for implant treatment planning.
Studies on the canal
Good list of studies results and methods used to locate
93% CBCT used front of anterior loop for length instead of mental foramen
